Phlox plant named ‘Sunphloconsa’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Phlox  plant named ‘Sunphloconsa’, characterized by its compact and mounding plant habit; freely branching and flowering habit; long flowering period; salmon pink-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Phlox drummondii.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Sunphloconsa’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phlox, botanically known as Phlox drummondii and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Sunphloconsa’.

The new Phlox plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan. The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact and mounding Phlox cultivars with freely branching habit, attractive flower coloration and tolerance to high temperatures.

The new Phlox plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan in June, 2004, of a proprietary selection of Phlox drummondii identified as code number 3Ph-24a, not patented, as the female, or seed parent with a proprietary selection of Phlox drummondii identified as code number 4Ph-19, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Phlox was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan in 2005.

Asexual reproduction of the new Phlox plant by cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan since August 2005, has shown that the unique features of this new Phlox plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Phlox have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Sunphloconsa’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Sunphloconsa’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Phlox:

-   -   1. Compact and mounding plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching and flowering habit.     -   3. Long flowering period.     -   4. Salmon pink-colored flowers.     -   5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Phlox differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Phlox have larger flowers than plants of         the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Phlox and the female parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection         have light pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Phlox differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in plant size as plants of the new Phlox are larger than plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Phlox can also be compared to plants of Phlox drummondii ‘Sunphlopin’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,361. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, plants of the new Phlox and ‘Sunphlopin’ differed in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Phlox were not as broad as plants of         ‘Sunphlopin’.     -   2. Plants of the new Phlox had shorter internodes than plants of         ‘Sunphlopin’.     -   3. Plants of the new Phlox had larger leaves and flowers than         plants of ‘Sunphlopin’.     -   4. Plants of the new Phlox and ‘Sunphlopin’ differed in flower         color as plants of ‘Sunphlopin’ have red purple-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Phlox, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Phlox.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Sunphloconsa’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of typical flowers of ‘Sunphloconsa’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, under commercial practice during the late spring and early summer in an outdoor nursery with day temperatures averaging 25° C. and night temperatures averaging 15° C. Plants had been growing for seven months when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Phlox drummondii ‘Sunphloconsa’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Phlox             drummondii identified as code number 3Ph-24a, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Phlox             drummondii identified as code number 4Ph-19, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About two to three weeks at 20° C.             to 25° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About one to two             months at 20° C. to 25° C.         -   Root description.—Fibrous; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; moderately dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form/habit.—Compact and mounding plant habit; vigorous             growth habit. Freely branching habit with lateral branches             potentially developing at every node; pinching enhances             branching.         -   Plant height.—About 21.6 cm.         -   Plant width (spread).—About 26 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 10.8 cm. Diameter: About             2.3 mm. Internode length: About 7 mm. Strength: Strong.             Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 144B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple; sessile.         -   Length.—About 4.3 cm.         -   Width.—About 1.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Narrowly elliptic.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Truncate to cordate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate, reticulate.         -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface:             Close to 144A; venation, close to 145C. Developing and fully             expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B; venation,             close to 145C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type/habit.—Single rotate flowers arranged in             terminal and axillary cymes; flowers face mostly upright or             outwardly. Cymes roughly hemispherical in shape. Freely             flowering habit with about three to four open flowers per             inflorescence.         -   Fragrance.—Moderately fragrant; sweet and pleasant.         -   Natural flowering season.—Continuously flowering from spring             to autumn in Japan.         -   Postproduction longevity.—Flowers last about five days on             the plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Flower buds.—Height: About 2.1 cm. Diameter: About 3.5 mm.             Shape: Clavate. Color: Close to 38D.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 2.8 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 5.4 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 3.2 cm.         -   Flower depth.—About 1.4 cm.         -   Tube length.—About 1.4 cm.         -   Tube diameter, base.—About 2.2 mm.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single             whorl; petals fused at the base into a narrow tube. Length:             About 1.5 cm. Lobe width: About 1.4 cm. Shape: Broadly             rhombic. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and             lower surfaces and throat: Smooth, glabrous. Texture, tube:             Pubescent. Color: Developing petals, upper surface: Close to             48C; towards the base, close to 50B. Developing petals,             lower surface: Close to 56B. Fully expanded petals, upper             surface: Close to 48D; towards the base, close to 51B. Fully             expanded petals, lower surface: Close to 56B. Throat: Close             to 18D. Tube: Close to 150D.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single             whorl, fused towards the base; calyx star-shaped. Length:             About 6.9 mm. Width: About 1.3 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex:             Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous. Color, developing and fully expanded             sepals, upper surface: Close to 137C. Color, developing and             fully expanded sepals, lower surface: Close to 137C.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2 mm to 7 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm.             Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 145B.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1 mm to 5 mm. Diameter: About             0.5 mm. Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close             to 145B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically             five. Stamen length: About 5 mm to 10 mm. Anther shape:             Narrowly oblong. Anther size: About 2.3 mm by 0.5 mm. Anther             color: Close to 12B. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color:             Close to 12A. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil             length: About 4.6 mm. Stigma shape: Three-parted. Stigma             color: Close to 2B. Style color: Close to 149B. Ovary color:             Close to 143C.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit development have not been             observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the Phlox have not been observed     to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Phlox. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Phlox have been observed to     have good garden performance and tolerate rain, wind and     temperatures ranging from about 0° C. to about 35° C. 

1. A new and distinct Phlox plant named ‘Sunphloconsa’ as illustrated and described. 